Page 144 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade8_Flipbook

Activity 3.15
Lesson: Clauses Learning Target
• Use different types of clauses to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing.
Sentences are made of clauses. Clauses contain subjects and verbs and may contain modifiers, objects, complements, and other sentence parts. Different kinds of sentences contain different numbers and kinds of clauses. You can use various kinds of clauses to express different relationships among ideas, to create a more mature style, and to increase reader or listener interest.
An independent clause contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a complete sentence.
EXAMPLE: This is an independent clause.
A dependent (or subordinate) clause contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. It
cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
EXAMPLE: because this is a dependent clause
There are different kinds of dependent clauses. Using a variety of dependent clauses can enliven your writing and
help you vary syntax.
A noun clause can act as a subject, object, appositive, or any other sentence part that a one-word noun can.
What you see is what you get. [What you see is the subject of the sentence. What you get is a predicate nominative.]
I don’t know whether the train is late. [Whether the train is late is the object of the verb know.] An adjectival clause (often called a relative clause) acts as a modifier of a noun or pronoun.
The paint set that he donated is very nice. [The clause modifies paint set.] An adverbial clause acts as a modifier of a verb, adjective, or other adverb.
Although we thought we left early enough, we still didn’t get there in time. [The clause modifies the verb did get.]
Hungry even though we had had a big lunch, Trevor asked for a snack. [The clause modifies the adjective hungry.]
Grammar Activities • Unit 3 3
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